Red Wings Need An Assistant? How About Ole No. 55? (NOT Keith Primeau, either)

I don't know that he'd do it. I don't know that he'd want to move from the relatively cushy life as a television talking head, but I'd sure like to see him give it a shot, if the Red Wings are interested.

Assistant coach Todd McLellan latched on to the San Jose Sharks as their new coach; good for him. And everyone in the Red Wings family wishes him well. His promotion leaves a void on the Wings' coaching staff.

Wings head coach Mike Babcock said the other day that he's been flooded with phone calls, as you can imagine, from men seeking to join the Detroit staff. It's not a bad resume booster, you know. Babcock wasn't committal to any certain individual, but he did say this: "Do we hire a former (veteran) defenseman? We have a lot of young defensemen."

I'd be tickled if Larry Murphy was one of those who placed a call to Babcock.

I pump for Murphy against my selfish reasons for wanting him to stay in television -- because I think the Red Wings' old no. 55 is simply terrific when it comes to analyzing games and breaking down videotape. He makes those nights when Mickey Redmond doesn't work for FSN very bearable, indeed.


Murphy in action during the 1998 Cup Finals


But this isn't about me; it's about Murph being a great fit for the Red Wings behind the bench, handling Babcock's blue liners.

I don't have to list Murphy's qualifications, but I will anyway. He's never coached, but he's a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a nearly 20-year NHL defenseman, and has been close to the team ever since he retired -- even more so during the past several years as he's been doing more and more FSN work for Detroit. So he travels with the guys a lot, and talks to them often as he prepares for broadcasts.

Hey, if Barry Melrose can chuck the good life at ESPN after 13 years for a return to the grind, then why not Larry Murphy?

One thing Murphy hasn't done much of is play hockey, or even put on some skates. He told me as much, when I cornered him the night they retired Steve Yzerman's jersey, back in January 2007. A few pickup games here and there, but that's about it, he told me. No burning desire to lace them up.

But that doesn't mean he wouldn't be amenable to a coaching try. It hasn't been an issue since Babcock arrived in 2005, because there's been stability on his staff. Heck, there's stability throughout the Red Wings organization; it's a big reason why they win Stanley Cups in Detroit more often than in any other NHL city. So maybe Murphy has entertained the thought, but felt it useless to pursue, as long as McLellan and Paul MacLean were in place.

But McLellan's gone now, and Babcock has the Help Wanted sign outside Joe Louis Arena.

Only qualified applicants reply, though -- and you can get plenty less so than Larry Murphy.